Watch MPs ramp up the pressure for Sir Philip Green to be stripped of his knighthood

MPs are certainly pulling no punches against Sir Philip Green, unanimously recommending he is stripped of his knighthood.

The former BHS owner was labelled a "billionaire spiv" and compared to Napoleon as MPs lined-up to criticise his role in the retail chain's demise.

They have asked the Honours Forfeiture Committee to ensure Green's knighthood is "cancelled and annulled", with the move viewed by one former minister as part of the businessman's "humiliation".

The unprecedented decision is non-binding, although Downing Street indicated it believes the independent committee may have a decision to make in the future.

Iain Wright, chairman of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, said BHS is "one of the biggest corporate scandals of modern times".

The House of Commons chamber during the debate (PA)

The barrage of criticism came after Green made another defence of his actions. In a letter sent by Green's holding company Taveta, he accused senior Labour MP Frank Field of "highly defamatory and false statements" for dragging the tycoon's Arcadia group into the BHS saga.

It also accused Field of causing "distress" to Arcadia's 22,000 employees by suggesting Sir Philip is "running Arcadia into the ground like BHS". The letter said there is "absolutely no substance" to the allegations.

Labour MP Frank Field (PA)

Field has led the charge against Sir Philip over BHS's collapse, dragging him before MPs to explain his actions. Opening the debate on Thursday, Field described Green as a "very successful traditional asset-stripper".